There are a few truisms about the political space in Nigeria.
One is that it is predominantly occupied by, to put it politely, people
who cannot do anything else. They had nothing to do before they got in,
contributed nothing to their communities (no, procreation does not
count) and will have absolutely no idea what to do when/if they have to
leave. The second is that it is absolutely/hands down the most
financially lucrative venture to indulge in. The rewards are
astronomical and relatively risk-free… for those going in to uphold the
status quo. The third is that, to be highly successful in the political
space, a person must murder the ability to be honest; swallow dignity
and unashamedly embrace the most nauseating form of sycophancy – the
proudly made in Nigeria strain.
As a result of the first three truisms, the fourth truism is that the type of person who should inhabit the political space – who cares and is skilled enough to actually make a difference in moving Nigeria in the right direction – is reluctant and even scared of participating.
2015 is clearly in play and, as some begin to deliberate about candidates and consider options about how to start tugging a reluctant political class and its machinery towards better governance, it is necessary to analyse the group captured by the fourth truism. As a few members of the professional class and civil society struggle with themselves about their responsibilities as citizens or their desires to enter into the political space, it is important to understand what makes our ‘dream candidates’ wary or afraid of attempting to actively participate in a space defined by Nigerian political truisms.
Apart from the obvious obstacles to participating such as the violence, the occultism and the compromise deals, there are other less obvious reasons people stay out of the political space. The possibility of damaging their reputation is a deterrent to many. The reality and perception of corruption within government is so pervasive that some are reluctant to accept political appointments for fear of being seen as just taking the opportunity to dip into the oil pool. The belief that government is not a place for people of honour and integrity is so strong that some, including foreigners, automatically ‘rethink’ what they believe they know about a person once news filters out linking him/her with elective or appointive positions.
This is unfair but not entirely unfounded. It is unfair because there is no doubt that public officials would lead lives slightly different from the rest of the public, not because they are above the public but their duties are such that they should be excused from certain routine activities. As the late Václav Havel – activist-turned-president of Czechoslovakia - put it, it is not the best use of his time as president to still have to make his own airline bookings when an assistant can be employed at the state’s expense to enable him focus on more important issues. The burden of making decisions which affect millions is a heavy one and the less routine things certain officials have to contend with, the better. However, in Nigeria, government officials take undue advantage of their positions to pile on privileges which are unjust and in complete discord with the services they provide the public. For instance, there are government agencies in Nigeria where the commissioners are paid a leave allowance of N10 million per annum in addition to other benefits. It is these types of unconscionable perks which make people believe any participation in government cannot be justified by people of conscience. And this is without the pitfalls and traps the more politically savvy lay out for those who come from the ‘outside’.
There is also the fear of metamorphosis. This is a difficult one to explain because clearly as far as the eye can see entering into the political space in Nigeria comes with an obvious transformation into a world of fantastic privileges and untold access to money and opportunities - where roads and people part miraculously before Nigerian politic
Leadership
As a result of the first three truisms, the fourth truism is that the type of person who should inhabit the political space – who cares and is skilled enough to actually make a difference in moving Nigeria in the right direction – is reluctant and even scared of participating.
2015 is clearly in play and, as some begin to deliberate about candidates and consider options about how to start tugging a reluctant political class and its machinery towards better governance, it is necessary to analyse the group captured by the fourth truism. As a few members of the professional class and civil society struggle with themselves about their responsibilities as citizens or their desires to enter into the political space, it is important to understand what makes our ‘dream candidates’ wary or afraid of attempting to actively participate in a space defined by Nigerian political truisms.
Apart from the obvious obstacles to participating such as the violence, the occultism and the compromise deals, there are other less obvious reasons people stay out of the political space. The possibility of damaging their reputation is a deterrent to many. The reality and perception of corruption within government is so pervasive that some are reluctant to accept political appointments for fear of being seen as just taking the opportunity to dip into the oil pool. The belief that government is not a place for people of honour and integrity is so strong that some, including foreigners, automatically ‘rethink’ what they believe they know about a person once news filters out linking him/her with elective or appointive positions.
This is unfair but not entirely unfounded. It is unfair because there is no doubt that public officials would lead lives slightly different from the rest of the public, not because they are above the public but their duties are such that they should be excused from certain routine activities. As the late Václav Havel – activist-turned-president of Czechoslovakia - put it, it is not the best use of his time as president to still have to make his own airline bookings when an assistant can be employed at the state’s expense to enable him focus on more important issues. The burden of making decisions which affect millions is a heavy one and the less routine things certain officials have to contend with, the better. However, in Nigeria, government officials take undue advantage of their positions to pile on privileges which are unjust and in complete discord with the services they provide the public. For instance, there are government agencies in Nigeria where the commissioners are paid a leave allowance of N10 million per annum in addition to other benefits. It is these types of unconscionable perks which make people believe any participation in government cannot be justified by people of conscience. And this is without the pitfalls and traps the more politically savvy lay out for those who come from the ‘outside’.
There is also the fear of metamorphosis. This is a difficult one to explain because clearly as far as the eye can see entering into the political space in Nigeria comes with an obvious transformation into a world of fantastic privileges and untold access to money and opportunities - where roads and people part miraculously before Nigerian politic
Leadership
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